WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Brecksville auto dealer Tom Ganley's decision to switch his campaign advertising from broadcast television to cable and radio marks a strategy change rather than an admission that he's giving up his race for Congress against Copley Township Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton, his campaign says.

Ganley's campaign announced it has canceled planned broadcast television ads as the election approaches and will instead spend at least $300,000 on radio and cable television advertising. The move prompted widespread speculation that Ganley is giving up his fight for the seat.

But Ganley campaign spokeswoman Meghan Snyder said the local broadcast market is saturated with campaign ads, and Ganley feels he has a better chance to "break through the clutter" by shifting to radio and cable television.

She said the change was unrelated to sexual harassment allegations against Ganley that were leveled by an aspiring campaign volunteer who also sought a paid job from one of Ganley's businesses. Ganley denies the woman's charges and accuses her of extortion.

"Our campaign continues to have the support of Ohioans who believe Tom Ganley is best suited to bring jobs back to Ohio, repeal Obamacare, stop Cap and Trade and bring our country back to prosperity," Snyder said. "We will not be deterred by the dirty tricks and lies that have plagued the race."

Sutton spokeswoman Gwen Rocco declined comment on Ganley's strategy, or that of her own campaign. Sutton has been running television ads that slam Ganley's ethics as a car dealer.

Rocco said Ganley has dodged opportunities to debate Sutton at venues including Cleveland's City Club. The pair will appear together on Wednesday night at a Coalition for Hispanic Issues and Progress forum at St. Joseph's Community Center in Lorain, but will not debate. They will be on Thursday's "Sound of Ideas" radio program on WCPN, but not at the same time.

Ganley will also appear Oct. 26 on WTAM's "Bob Frantz Show," but Sutton won't be on the show "due to prior committments," her campaign says.

Rocco says Ganley avoided debates and hid behind attack ads because "he's clearly afraid to stand up in the light of day and explain his positions and why he has deceived customers," while Snyder says he choose his appearances to "ensure Betty Sutton does not have another forum to continue lying about Tom Ganley."

Ganley's ad switch comes as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has begun to withdraw ad buys in races where its candidates have fallen behind in polls, including the Cincinnati rematch between Rep. Steve Driehaus and the former GOP congressman he defeated in 2008, Steve Chabot.

"When Democrats vote in lockstep with party leaders for more taxes and more spending, their race moves beyond reach and Democrats know that," says National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Tory Mazzola. "It is an indication that Driehaus' party-line record is not what Southwest Ohioans want."

Mazzola said Ganley is running a "a good campaign focused on creating jobs" and that voters care more about Betty Sutton's record on jobs and her votes with the Democratic majority in Congress than they do about the allegations against Ganley.

Mazzola's group has not been active in Ganley's race, although it has spent $482,417 to oppose Alliance Democratic Rep. John Boccieri, $248,205 to oppose Dover Democratic Rep. Zack Space and $94,310 to oppose St. Clairsville Democratic Rep. Charlie Wilson, according to federal political spending reports tracked by the Sunlight Foundation.

So far, the DCCC has spent $378,373 on ads against Ganley. It has spent $549,191 against Boccieri's GOP opponent, Wadsworth businessman Jim Renacci; $246,808 against Space's Republican foe, state legislator Bob Gibbs, and $20,692 to oppose Republican Steve Stivers, who is running against Columbus Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy. Late Tuesday, it filed papers at the Federal Election Commission that showed a $29,810 media buy against Chabot.

In a statement relayed through a spokesman, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen said his group cancelled its ad reservations in Cincinnati after its GOP counterpart did so, and that his organization will keep up its voter contact efforts in the district.

"We will continue to keep our options open as events change and we remain confident of Steve Driehaus' victory on Election Night," said Van Hollen, a Maryland congressman.

DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer did not respond to questions about Ganley's advertising decision. The Washington Post has reported DCCC is so confident Sutton will win because of the harassment allegations against Ganley that it is cutting its ad buy in that congressional district.

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